5 Nuns walk into a Bar

...and two Postulants. We may have turned some heads this month as we walked into Kirkwood Brewery. Admittedly we felt like the beginning of a bad joke.  So what were we doing in a bar at 7 o'clock at night? The Nuns and the Posts attended St.Louis Young Adult Ministry's Theology On Tap. TOT is a program of lectures that has took off in numerous catholic dioceses across the country.

                     

If you have never heard of Theology on Tap (TOT) check out the diocese near you.
Quick TOT History Lesson (from my friend wiki):

The series was cofounded by Father John Cusick, a resident of Old St. Patrick's Parish, and director of the archdiocese's Young Adult Minister and Father Jack Wall in June 1981 in Arlington Heights, Illinois, as the result of comments made by a recent college graduate who was "concerned about his personal identity and finding meaning in life."^[1] 

The lectures, which are often given by noted spiritual leaders and religious academics, address current topics in religion and theology, and are notable and sometimes controversial for their venue, which is normally a bar or restaurant. 

Since its inception, the program has spread to more than 180 parishes and dioceses and at least six other countries, including Canada,Italy, Taiwan, the Philippines, Ireland, Australia and Hong Kong.^[4]

Talk about meeting the people where they are! The diocese rented a large room (the whole left half of the restaurant/bar) and it was filled to the gills with young adults (like over 100) who came to socialize and hear a lecture on the faith.

This past month the talk was given by Daughter of Saint Paul, Sister Helena Burns. She nailed an awesome talk on Theology of the Body and finding God in the media.  If you don't already read her blog it's Here.

She is in good company. Other TOT speakers have included Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Cardinal Rigali, Cardinal Patrick O'Malley, Cardinal George Pell and more!


Here's the FB info on TOT for Saint Louie:
http://www.facebook.com/totSTL

Oh, by the way...

As you can tell by perusing our blog that we live in St. Louis. I thought it would be nice to let you know that we have a blog for our bookcenter too!
Check it out to see what we're up to here in the St. Louis Bookcenter. Some of our Sisters write short, inspirational posts too! Enjoy!
http://visit.pauline.org/stlouis/

Our Bookcenter in St. Louis!

Giving thanks for a hundred things and more!

Since it’s thanksgiving… I started thinking about how incredibly blessed I am and how I should be thanking God for everything… All those little things as well as all those in-your-face things. So I made a list…. These are 100 things, in no particular order, that I am thankful for…

I’m thankful for…

1.     The splendor of autumn

2.     Sister Mary Joan’s authentic Italian Cooking. (so yummy!)

3.     Freshly baked cookies straight from the oven.

4.     Sweaters…the warm and cozy kind.

5.     Hearing my Sisters laugh from down the hallway.

6.     Community Life

7.     Chocolate 

8.     Unexpected mail

9.     A phone call from my family where I get to talk to ALL of my siblings in one sitting!

10. That genuine laughter that erupts from the bottom of your soul.

11.  Really great, heavy blankets

12.  Bread

13.  Baking. Anything.

14.  Watching a really great movie and discussing it afterwards.

15.  Warm, clean piles of laundry straight from the dryer.

16.  Being in the chapel first thing in the morning.

17.  Reading and being inspired by the writings of amazing, holy people like Blessed James Alberione.

18.  Hand written letters

19.  Postcards sent from all over the world!

20.  Learning to iron… for real.

21.  Being taught how to make REAL Italian meatballs and tomato sauce. mmMMmm…..

22.  When Sr. Donna makes comfort food 

23.  Sr. Mary Joan’s hilarious sayings…

24.  People who come into our bookcenter

25.  Benefactors!!!

26.  Technology

27.  Those moments when the sky is that perfect shade of blue and you feel like there’s not a care in the world…

28.  The smell of dryer sheets (yes, weird but true.) 

29.  COFFEE

30.  Sr. Rebecca’s patience

31.  Music. Good music.

32.  A really great navy blue sweater 

33.  St. Arbucks. (The postulant’s favorite “Parish”-- take away the period in the name.)

34.  Playing Piano at St. Elizabeth’s.

35.  Calla Lillies (My favorite)

36.  A really GOOD church musician…

37.  Yellow… not the highlighter yellow, but that warm-makes-you-wanna-smile-forever-sunshine-yellow. that color.

38. Candles

39. Those puffy white clouds that look like you could take a plane up and just step right out and take a nap on it’s fluffiness.

40. Difficult moments

41. Home

42. Cushioned kneelers

43. My croc flats

44. Crisp morning walks to Mass with Sr. Cynthia and talking about the Gospel of the day

45. Kitchen talks with Sr. Mary Joan about the founder, and Italian food, and vocation stories and life….

46.  Watching Lord of the Rings with Fr. Gerber 

47.  The beauty of a "regular" schedule

48.  Sharpie Markers

49.  Raspberry-Lemonade… so.delish.

50.  The Black Hymnal

51.  My incredible friends in MD that have been there for me my whole life. 

52.   New Balance Sneakers

53.  Scarves….the warm hug-your-neck kind that you just want to leave on, even inside. 

54.  Waking up AWAKE! (easier said than done)

55.  Sunshine pouring into my room.

56. Book exhibits

57. Chocolate Care packages from Maggie 

58. Drawings from my siblings.

59. "Folks-y" acoustic guitar music  

60. The smell of Tuesday morning (aka- floor washing day!)

61.  Beethoven (playing it and having it played to me)

62.  My skirt that never wrinkles…which means I never have to iron it!

63.  Not having to think about what I’m going to wear in the morning…. Blue and white. Biggest decision is which blue sweater I’m going to use…. Beauty.

64.  Not having to wear make-up anymore!

65. Mistakes…. Because I learn SO much from them.

66.  The smell of bread baking

67.  That feeling you get when you receive a really great hug.

68.  Studying to classical music 

69.  My grandmother’s recipes

70.  Creativity

71. Our back yard grotto

72.  Sr. Noel’s cupcakes...they’re like heaven in your mouth and I miss them now that Sr. Noel's been reassigned to Boston. 

73.  Crazy moments

74.  The quiet moments in the chapel when it’s just Jesus and me.

75.  Long leisurely walks

76.  Prayers

77.  Those moments when you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are loved.

78.  Did I mention COFFEE?? 

79.  Tea with milk and honey…. Mmmm

80.  Panera

81.  Silliness

82.  Artistic inspiration

83.  Prayer Requests

84.  Retreat Sunday

85.  SLEEP

86.  How everything…(I mean everything) is labeled here at the convent.

87.  Post-it-notes.  I use them for EVERYTHING!

88.  Lemon and honey in hot water

89.  Sr. Mary Joan’s homemade tiramisu

90.  Community Recreation nights

91.  Photography and my camera

92.  The way light falls on things and takes your breath away

93.  People’s patience with my ridiculousness.

94.  The fact that I live with amazingly talented people.

95.  Rain…good steady rain

96.  Color

97.  My community here in St. Louis… I am SO incredibly blessed to live with the most amazing people. Everyday I become a better person because of them and their example.

98. My family… I am so blessed and eternally grateful for the wonderful gift of my family, who are so extraordinarily precious to me.

99. My mom…She is such an incredible woman. This is so generic of me, but I can’t even begin to describe how amazing she is and how blessed I am to have her as my mother.

100. GOD…. I mean really…who am I kidding? Without Him, my list wouldn’t even exist, much less me. I am indescribably thankful for the gift of being able to thank HIM! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

-Chelsea 

Baby Jesus Party

There's been so much going on this month... but this is one of the things that we're working on currently! 

Our annual Baby Jesus Party!